Ryder Cup

Rustin W

17 Replies

Christian J

September 25, 2012 at 10:22am

I love Ryder Cup week. I can't wait to watch it come down to TW and Rory in the final grouping on Sunday. I know these two guys weren't at the top of their game this past weekend, but I still believe that they are the two best current golfrs out there.

Jason G

September 25, 2012 at 11:44am

Lets hope the Ryder Cup is played in the true spirit of Samual Ryders' idiom of keenly played, but sportsmanship at all times, and doesn't degenerate into warlike speeches from people, with crowds attempting to intimidate opponents and barracking from the galleries. Lets remember its a game of golf, not a war. Thats not in the spirit of the Ryder Cup or indeed golf. Support and patriotism is normal and inevitable, but I just hope the galleries remember that we can support our teams, but it doesn't need to degenerate into abuse, and silly monkey like chanting. Lets see some Class from the galleries and teams alike. We will see.

Good luck to both teams, and I hope that the game of golf prevails.

James B

September 26, 2012 at 3:41pm

To all those going to the Ryder Cup - HAVE FUN ! Wish I could be here with you , maybe one of these years I will make it out there :-)

Jason G

September 27, 2012 at 6:52am

Too much talk of 'pummelling' opponents and 'bashing brains in' by the Captain and Mr Sneds!! Disgaceful and total disrespect for the game and the tournament. Prior legends would not approve. And as for Bobby Jones, he would be turning in his grave. Even Mr Snead, one of the most intensely competitive golfers in history never resorted to this nonsense, he didn't have to. True Gentlemen don't need to talk the talk, they can walk the walk and let their clubs do the talking for them. So have some respect for the sport, the tournament, and the opponents please, and stop the war mongering rhetoric. You don't get this treatment when you come to Europe to play, you are treated with respect. So please offer us the same courtesy. We support our team with partisan bents of course, but we never treat the US team with such disdain. If you wan2 be so aggressive then there is a war in Afghanistan, that we are all involved in remember. And we are on the same side. So if you wan2 be so aggressive in your manner, I would suggest signing up to your Armed Forces if you just want to fight a War! Its Golf, and the games bedrock is built upon Respect, and fair play. Some Americans are not doing the sport or their country any favours with this offensive behaviour. Stop now!!!

Aaron M

September 27, 2012 at 12:06pm

Have a little fun in the competition. This isn't the EPL or NFL where rival teams actually hate each other. Most of these guys are friends on tour, and none of the comments were meant as disrespectful. Sneds and the captain just want to win, and you better believe Rory and Luke and others on the European team are thinking the same things.

Jason G

September 27, 2012 at 12:57pm

I totally agree that Rory and Luke will want to win just as much, the difference is, that they have enough respect for their 'friends', as you put it, and indeed the Tournament as Samuel Ryder intended, not to let that will to win to degenerate into the aggressive type of comments we have heard.

The likes of Rory and Luke will let their clubs do the talking, and hope that will be enough. The word 'Pummelling' 'Bashing brains in' and 'hostile' that have dished out by Americans, lacks class and is inflamatory, not to mention disrespectful to the sport. If a foreigner came to your country and said things will be hostile, or that he wanted to beat some brains in, I am sure he would have a one way ticket to Guantanamo.

At the end of the day, none of us play on the PGA tour so we cannot comment on whether these people are friends. And what is fact is that the prior legends would never have said these types of things. Some people have lost the respect that these great ambassadors bestowed upon the game, and some honestly don't know the difference between right and wrong, and I genuinely feel sorry for those people.

Some have Class, and some simply haven't.

I do agree with you though when you say its not an NFL game where players and teams genuinely hate each other, I'm just not so sure why then, some people are behaving like exactly that. If the Americans want to win that much, that people have to resort to aggressive comments, then maybe the Europeans should simply give the Americans the Ryder Cup to keep permanently if Amerca wants it that badly, and let the Europeans go play against The Rest of the World in a new form of the event, whereby true gentlemen of the Sport such as Ernie, Adam Scott, Louis Oosthuizen and KJ Choi can show their prowess but behave in the manner that Golf deserves.

I am not trying to be argumentative, but I know that I was offended as a European, by these comments and fear these type comments will inflame the alcohol induced galleries into an unpleasant atmosphere for some fans and players alike.

Remember the crowds in 2006 at the K Club in Ireland? Yes they were rowdy, but oh boy, were they respectful to the Americans and welcomed them at all times. I know, I was there!!

I truly hope I am wrong and that we can all sit back and enjoy the excitement at Medinah. Watch this space I guess. If I am wrong I will gladly put another post on here saying I was wrong. All we can do is see.

Christian J

September 27, 2012 at 1:43pm

This is all just for fun guys. All of the talk is just pepping the Ryder Cup up, its not a war. Like someone just said, there all friends outside of this. In no way is this disrespect to golf, if anything its helping it appeal to more people.

JPHB

September 27, 2012 at 2:08pm

go Team Europe!!!!

In my opinion players like Rory, Westwood, Luke, and Colsaerts have the best swings and best games, in golf today, this European team will be very very tough to beat.

eagle3

September 27, 2012 at 2:38pm

Unfortunately we, as Americans, seem to show our negative side at times. the term"Ugly American" comes to mind and I hope that the fans will be courteous to every player there. It behooves us,,as golf enthusiasts, to be better than some of the others that seem to show up at times and hopefully we will see some fantastic golf as a result.

Jason G

September 27, 2012 at 2:59pm

Well I agree with you that its appealing to more people. People of a certain type granted. People who don't understand the sport, its traditions and values. Quality over quantity I say. Perhaps we just have different standards over here. Maybe no-one is right, and no-one is wrong. We just live in different worlds with differents standards I guess. We in the UK had a problem with Hooliganism in Football in the 1970's from people like this. Beer drinking, neantherdals with an unhealthy tribal attitude, whooping and hollering. Thats not fun on the golf course. If anyone thinks it is, they are at the wrong Sporting event. Appears money is more important than standards. Pity. Apologies if you work on the Tour, and know for sure the intimate relationships of all the players. I doubt very much if they are all 'friends'. No working environment ever is. There are always clashes in the work place, so that comment is somewhat naive to assume. Come on, you honestly believe they are all friends? Lol. Anyhow, maybe enough has been said, Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I respect that for as long as they respect mine. Good luck to all players and lets not forget the thousands of helpers at Medinah who will be there to help things run smoothly. Lets hope that the real winner will be the game of Golf.

Jason G

September 27, 2012 at 3:05pm

Not so sure myself. The course is set up well for the Americans, and when I look back at the American team of 2006, with the utmost respect, this 2012 American Team is extremely strong. But I guess reputations don't count for much if they can't perform on the day. But I think it will be extremely tough for the Europeans this time around. Good luck to both teams though.

Jason G

September 27, 2012 at 4:59pm

Well said Sir! Now lets see what these Friday Morning Foursomes pairings are all about?? My wife has fallen asleep here, in the UK its late evening, so I am watching the Opening ceremony now and it'll be interesting to see the first mornings pairings.

Marc S

September 27, 2012 at 5:28pm

Reading all of this competition and spirit of the game banter is killing me. C'mon Man! The reason we Americans have been getting stomped is because our 13th Man has not been up to par, not the players. Take a look at some of the highlights and you will see the passion and energy that the crowd brings to the players. Listen to some of the stories and you'll see how the vibe of the crowd adds to the pressure of both teams. Both for and against. I believe this year's Ryder Cup being held in Chicago is a great place to once again establish our foot-hold on the Cup. As long as our Team's putters cooperate, I am confident that with the support of the fans behind them we will be victorious. So USA (Chicago Fans), get into it, yell, scream, sing and dance and put this team on your backs so they can ride you to victory. We've shown so much passion towards the NFL replacement refs, let's now focus that passion on bringing home the CUP! Fore!!!

H823PUTT

September 27, 2012 at 9:49pm

Jason G

September 27, 2012 at 2:59pm

Well I agree with you that its appealing to more people. People of a certain type granted. People who don't understand the sport, its traditions and values. Quality over quantity I say. Perhaps we just have different standards over here. Maybe no-one is right, and no-one is wrong. We just live in different worlds with differents standards I guess. We in the UK had a problem with Hooliganism in Football in the 1970's from people like this. Beer drinking, neantherdals with an unhealthy tribal attitude, whooping and hollering. Thats not fun on the golf course. If anyone thinks it is, they are at the wrong Sporting event. Appears money is more important than standards. Pity. Apologies if you work on the Tour, and know for sure the intimate relationships of all the players. I doubt very much if they are all 'friends'. No working environment ever is. There are always clashes in the work place, so that comment is somewhat naive to assume. Come on, you honestly believe they are all friends? Lol. Anyhow, maybe enough has been said, Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I respect that for as long as they respect mine. Good luck to all players and lets not forget the thousands of helpers at Medinah who will be there to help things run smoothly. Lets hope that the real winner will be the game of Golf.

I WOULD PAY THE CABLE COMPANY BIG TIME IF THEY COULD MUTE THE "GET IN THE HOLE" ETC SCREAMS ....

Jason G

September 28, 2012 at 5:40am

Nothing wrong with all of the above, as long as it doesn't resort into barracking, heckling and abuse of the other team. Olazabal has already made it clear in the opening speeches that he won't put up with that, and, in the defence of the USA captain, he also mentioned that he expects galleries to behave in a way that respects the ethos of the Ryder Cup. Surely none of us want a situation like Brookline, where one particular European player was heckled by 'fans' so much that his own parents were so disgusted that they walked off the course! Thats just ugly, and does nothing to enhance the American reputation in the world. As the USA captain said in his speech, off the golf course, we are allies and friends in this world, and America needs all the friends it can get!! Lets not forget that!